M18x R2 bios (?) problem, need help

[Lex_Amorph]

Hi, mates. Write this topic with sadness. Just buy this m18x r2, with dead videocards, as seller tell me. Notebook work fine, have i7-3630 onboard and A14 bios. I think, I replace cards, which left in notebook even with crossfire cable to gtx 670, but notebook don't see discrete card, I try my p106, the same, change slot - also zero. Check cards from notebook in my m17 r3, both fine working hd 7970 w gb ddr5. So I buy notebook with 2 working cards and both dead mxm slots. I think, maybe I need unlocked bios to see cards, so download A11 unlocked bios from techinferno, make freedos flash drive via rufus, so bios write normal. Of course, mxm cards anyway don't see, and I make mistake, change preferences of integrated videocard in unlocked stash, add memory, and change resolution to fullhd. After rebooting I receive black screen, first couple times I hear 2 beeps, then 7 beeps, (memory and cpu) then left only 7 beeps. I try to disconnect adapter wire, remove battery and puch power button 1 minute, try to return bios to default settings. It's don't work, I try all solutions from dell official site, and today I try last solution to remove cmos battery from mainboard to 10-15 min, it must guaranteed reset bios settings. But no, I accurate put battery back to slot, try to start notebook, keyboard and power button light 2 sec, then notebook power off to 2 sec, then start again, light 2 sec and power off again. Nothing on display, no beeps or something, just on,off,on, off. Maybe somebody previously heard about something like this? I try to remove battery and start without, have the same result absolutely. Usual, as I remember, battery error was 5 beeps, in my case nothing. Would be very appreciated for for any help, ideas, solutions and previous experience, positive or negative.

[sliderfra]

hi,

it seems your bios has gone bad.

You may need to reflash main bios with a good dump with help of ch341A

[Maro97]

Make a blind bios

[Lex_Amorph]

Thank you so much, mate. Maybe, you have link to any information about "how to do" this operation? I know, where buy ch341a and even already order, but I absolutely haven't real experience yet. And where's people usual take good dumps for this bios? 

[Maro97]

Download the original Alienware unmodded A03 bios from Dellat Drivers and Downloads | Dell [united States] The file is named "M18R2A03WIN"

Extract the contents of M18R2A03WIN to a new folder named "Alienware recovery" anywhere on your useable computer. In there you should have a bunch of files. (9 in total)

Look for the one called QBR10EC.fd

Rename this file to M18R2.hdr

Place the file M18R2.hdr on a formatted fat32 usb stick on its own.

Thats it. Blind created

 

Recovery process:

To do the recovery process you need to remove your m18x r2 battery.

Unplug the back power cord as well

Plug the usb stick with the file M18R2.hdr in the M18X's e-sata port

Now hold down the END key (located above the numbers key pad) at the same time while your holding the END key plug in the power cord only, you will hear the fans turn on full bolt.

Release the end key and wait

After a few seconds once the file is read from the USB stick you will hear 20 or 30 beeps (sounds like a garbage truck reversing)

After the beeps stop the m18x will shut down and reboot itself. ( 1 or 2 times depending)

Once reboot all will be back to normal A03 bios.

Connect the battery back if you wish after successful boot.. That's all folks, things should work now unless you bricked the EC controller, which is hard to do.

[Lex_Amorph]

Thank you, friend, I really appreciate your help *handshake*. Today try to make this operation.